144 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



in the ring of the bit, or in the ring of a nose, is used to 

 lead with. 



A riding pony for children should be quiet, tractable, and 

 a safe stepper. In addition to being well shaped, like a 

 hack, for young boys, he should not be very round in the 

 body ; as if he is, he tires the rider's legs and does not afford 

 a grip. If for girls, his width is not of so much importance, 

 perhaps, as length to carry the side-saddle (which should have 

 a crupper) ; but as in the other, he ought to have a good 

 fore-hand, and the head and neck should be well carried. 



Though all ponies may be ridden, yet only those which 

 might be termed " hacks in miniature " are good for the saddle. 

 But for harness, these, as well as those with heavy, upright 

 shoulders and low withers, may be employed ; indeed, ponies 

 which may be considered very badly adapted for riding will be 

 found sometimes excellent in harness ; and for some purposes- 

 ponies are preferable to horses for driving, as they cost less to- 

 buy, are cheaj)er to keep, and generally last longer, while they 

 are handy, and will often travel as far as, if not farther than, 

 large-sized horses. 



The management of ponies differs but little from that of 

 horses. In the stable, the same sanitary rules are to be ob- 

 served, and cleanliness in the way of grooming should be 

 enforced. Feeding and watering ought to be attended to in 

 the same way ; though the quantity of food allowed will, of 

 course, be less than for the horse, and must vary according to- 

 the amount of work performed, the size of the pony, and the- 

 season of the year. 



A pony about thirteen hands high, performing a fair 

 amount of work, should thrive well on fifty or sixty pounds of 

 oats, and about the same quantity of hay, per week. An 

 authority states that a pair of ponies, not over thirteen and a. 

 half hands high, in full condition for park display, can be kept 

 well on one hundred pounds of oats and two trusses of hay^ 



